Traveling thrasher



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I. B. HOLT 8v J. DRAPER. TRAVELING THRASHER.

No. 408,413. Patented Aug. 6, 1889.

N. PETERS. plwm-pimu n hur, Washinghm, D C

(No Model.)

4 Sheets$heet 2. B. HOLT & J. DRAPER.

TRAVELING THRASHER.

N0f408,-413. Patented Aug. 6, 1889..

N PETERS. Pi oluuthogmphen Washlruginn. 0.04

(No Model) 4 Sheets-rSh'e'et 3.

B. HOLT & J. DRAPER. TRAVELING THRASHER.

No. 408,413. Patented Aug. 6, 1889.

PETERS. PlmIv-Lilhognpheh Washington D C 4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

(No Model.)

B. HOLT & J. DRAPER. I TRAVELING THRASHER. No. 408,413. Patented Aug. 6,1889.

N PETIERS. Phawmm m han wmin m mc UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN- HOLT AND JABEZ DRAPER, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

TRAVELING T HRASHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,413, dated August6, 1889.

Application filed April 3, 1889. Serial No. 305,886. (No model.)

T to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN HOLT and J ABEZ DRAPER, of the city ofStockton, county of San Joaquin, State of California, have invented anImprovement in Traveling Thrashers; andwe hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

Our invention relates to certain improvements in thrashing-machines; andit consists in the constructions and combinations of devices which weshall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

Figure 1 is a left-side elevation of our ma chine. Fig. 2 is a plan withthe upper portion of the separator and cleaner removed. Fig. 3 is anenlarged view of the adjustingbracket 8. Fig. 4; is an enlarged view ofthe tightener WV. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section through the upper end ofthe elevator-case R, showing adjustment of driving-shaft. Fig. 6

. is an enlarged view of adjustable box a.

Fig.7 is an enlarged skeleton arrangement of the wheels, pulleys, andbelts.

A are the main longitudinal beams or sills -upon which the thrasher andoperating devices are supported.

B B are the main bearing and driving Wheels, each having its ownindependent short shaft, which does not extend across the centralportion of the frame, and C is the front steering-wheel.

A are timbers outside of and parallel with the sills A, and they arebolted to transverse beams A which cross the sills at right angles. thewheels B B are journaled upon the timbers A and the sills A, and themain countershaft G is also journaled upon these timbers at the left ofthe machine. Diagonal tensionrods A pass through the ends of the fronttimbers A and cross so as to be secured to the timber A upon theopposite side and near the front.

The mechanism of the header (which is not shown in the present case) isdriven by the right-hand wheel B of the machine, and the mechanism ofthe thrasher and cleaner is driven by the left-hand wheel B, and it isthis mechanism which is especially the subject of the present invention.

The thrashing-cylinder, grain-carryin g belt,

The short independent shafts B of straw-carrier, cleaning-shoe withinthe machine, and the elevators are not dissimilar in any importantpoints to those which are in common use, and their positions are onlyindicated from the exterior of the machine in order to explain theirrelations to the driving mechanisms. In order to drive these variousparts with proper speed and direction with relation to each other, Weemploy a system of chain belts and sprocket-wheels, which prevents anyslipping or marked change in the length and tension of the belts, suchas usually occurs when the ordinary smooth flexible belts are employed.

D is the driving sprocket-wheel, which is fixed upon the outside of themain bearingwheel B, and E is the chain passing around this wheel, andthence around the small sprocket-wheel F, which is fixed upon thecounter-shaft G, journaled in boxes upon the frame-timbers A A towardthe rear of the machine. Upon this shaft are fixed two othersprocket-wheels II and I. A chain belt J from the first of these wheelsH passes around a sprocket-wheel K upon the counter-shaft L, and thelower part of this chain in its return or downward movement passes overthe teeth of the sprocket-wheel M, which is fixed upon the outer end ofthe grain-carrier shaft, so that it drives the grain-carrier as well asthe counter-shaft L.

Upon the counter-shaft L are fixed two other sprocket-wheels I and O.From the first and smaller of these wheels an independent chain belt Pextends up to the pulley Q, which is fixed to the upper shaft of theelevator, which travels within the elevator-case R, and raises the grainwhich is delivered to its lower end by the grain-auger receiving thegrain from the shoe. This elevator delivers the grain into thesupplemental cleaner S, situated upon the top of the machine, as shown.

From the larger pulley 0 upon the shaftL a chain S passes around apulley upon a counter-shaft T, thence around a pulley U upon abeater-shaft V, and thence back to the pulley 0.

WV is an adjustable tightening-pulley, the shaftof which is journaledupon a slotted bar X, which is movable, so as to regulate the tension ofthe belt S, and is held at any desired point by a set-screw Y passingthrough IOC the slot and screwing into the frame-timbers of the machine.

Upon the side of the wheel l which is fixed to the beater-shaft, is acrank-pin Z, from which a pitman a extends alongside of the machine andconnects with the rocker-arm I). This rocker-arm is fixed to the shaft0, which extends across the interior of the machine, and has arms (nothere shown) .which connect with the shoe in the usual manner, andthrough the oscillations of the rocker-arm b the shoe is caused tooscillate.

A pulley d is fixed upon the counter-shaft T, and from this a belt 6passes around the pulley which is fixed upon the end of the shaft of thefan, supplying air to the supplemental cleaner S', which fan rotateswithin the case 9.

Returning again to the pulleys upon the first counter-shaft G, a belt 72passes around the larger pulley I, and thence around a pulley 1' uponthe counter-shaft j. This counter-shaftj extends across thethrashingmachine, and carries upon its opposite end a pulley L, fromwhich a belt passes around a pulley Z, which is fixed upon the end ofthe thrashing-cylinder shaft. The power to drive the cylinder is derivedthrough this source.

Returning to the left side of the machine, the counter-shaftj has fixedupon it another pulley m, from which a belt it passes around a pulleyupon the counter-shaft o, and this shaft has a pulley p fixed to it,from which a belt (1 passes to the pulley 1 upon the shaft of thefeeder, which delivers the unthrashed straw to the thrashing-cylinder.From this it will be seen that the power which is first transmittedaltogether to the counter-shaft G is subdivided at this point, and themechanism of the thrasher and feeder are driven from one pulley, whilethe carriers, cleaning mechanism, and fans are driven from anotherpulley.

In order to regulate the tension of the driving-belt J, the shaft L isjournaled in boxes which are fixed upon a brackets. This bracket has aplate t, which rests against the side of the thrashing-machine, and hasslots u made in it for the reciprocation of bolts by which it is securedto the side of the machine.

V is a lug upon one side of the bracket, through which a screw 10passes. The shank of this screw passes up through the top of the frameof the machine, and has a head resting upon a washer or support X, sothat by turning the screw around, the bracket is either raised ordepressed, so as to correspondingly raise or depress the counter-shaftL, and with it its sprocket-wheels, and thus tighten or slacken'thechain J, and also partially the chain S, which extends at an inclinationdownward from its driving-wheel O. \Vhen the proper adjustment has beenat tained, the bolts passing through the slots u may be tightened andthe bracket firmly fixed in place.

8 is a brace-rod extending from the bracket 5 to the side of themachine, with adjusting and holding nuts 8 y y are brackets fixedbetween the two upright timbers 2 upon each side of the machine, eachhaving upon its horizontal top a box a. This box carries thecounter-shaftj and is adjusted upon the top of the bracket 'y by meansof the screw 1), which passes through the lug c',and has a head by whichit may be turned, so as to move the box a in either direction upon thetop of the bracket.

One of the bolts d, by which the cap of the journal box a is held inplace, passes entirely through the journal-box, and also through thebracket, passing through a slot 6, as shown in Fig. 6. The lower end ofthe shank of the bolt d is flattened where it passes through the slot 6,so that it will not turn when the nut is screwed upon the upper end ofthe bolt to secure the cap of the journal-box; but when the nut isloosened and the screw Z) is turned it will be manifest that by reasonof the slot e this bolt will be allowed to move back and forward withthe journalbox, and it thus acts as a guide for the box, while at thesame time the bolts b and d have a sufficiently loose connection withthe box a to allow it to turn slightly and accommodate itself to anyirregularity in the position or adjustment of the shaft j which mayoccur, because its ends are moved in opposite directions to regulate thetension of belts leading to opposite sides of the shaft. One of theseadjustments is fixed on each side of the machine, and through them thedrivingchain h, which furnishes power to drive the cylinder, as beforedescribed, is properly adjusted, and also the chain between the pulleysk and Z upon the opposite sides of the machine.

The elevator-buckets traveling in the grainelevator case B are fixedupon a chain belt, the upper and lower ends of which pass over suitablesprocket-wheels at these points, and the tension of this belt ismaintained by means of adjusting-slides f, having screws g, extendingupwardly from their upper end, and nuts h, which turn against a washeror plate extending across the upper end of the elevator-case.

t" i are the boxes in which the upper chain elevator-shaft is journaled,and they project from the slide f and extend into a slot in the side ofthe elevator-case, so as to serve as guides. The slidesf extend a shortdistance below the ends of the slots, and their lower ends are slottedto receive a rod j, which extends across through the elevator-case fromone side to the other. There are two of these adjustments, one upon eachside of the case. This bolt serves to hold both of them in place afterthe adjustments have been made by means of the screws g and the nuts h,before alluded to.

It will be manifest that the chain P must be adjusted to correspond withthe adjustment of the elevator-belt, and as its adjustment may notalways be exactly the same as that of the elevator-belt this adjustmentis provided for by the employment of a tightening-pulley 7a, which isjournaled upon a slotted bar Z, this bar being adapted to slidetransversely upon the elevator-case R and being secured at any point ofadjustment by means of a bolt passing through the slot in the bar andlocking it wherever desired.

The elevator chain belt is utilized to drive the grain-auger at R byextending the shaft of that auger through the lower end of theelevator-case and fixing the lower sprocketwheel of the chainelevator-belt upon the grain-auger shaft, thus dispensing with anindependent belt to drive this grain-augeigwhich carries the grain fromthe cleaniug shoe within the thrashing-machine to the elevator of thesupplemental cleaner S.

Although the cleaning shoe within the thrashing-machine separates alarge portion of the chaif and heads at this point, still there is agreat deal of grain to Which the husks still cling which passes throughthe screens and is carried up by the elevator into the supplementalcleaner S.

I11 driving all this machinery from the main wheel D the strain upon thebelt E is very great and has a tendency to draw the main driving-shaftand the first counter-shaft G toward each other and to spring the frame.

In order to resist this tendency we fix bracing-beams 0' so that theirouter ends abut against the journal-boxes of these wheelshafts or theirsupports, while their meeting ends are at an obtuse angle, as shown inFig.

-l. Upon the top of this angle is a plate 19,

through which passes a bolt q, the lower end passing through a heavyplate upon the top of the tranverse beam A which extends across the mainsills A and is strongly bolted thereto. By means of the nut upon theupper end of the bolt holding the bracing-timbers 0 these timbers may beadjusted at will.

The distance between the main bearing: wheel shafts and the frontsteering-wheel is considerable, and the tendency of these mainlongitudinal timbers or sills is to spring, and this is increased by therapid movement and strain of the heavy cylinder.

The cylinder-shaft is journaled upon the top of the horizontal timbers,the ends of which are supported in the vertical timbers 25. Thesevertical timbers are secured to the sills by bolts extending downthrough the caps and having nuts at the lower end by which they are keptas tight as may be necessary.

a are angular braces strongly bolted to the sills A and having theirinner ends bolted to the vertical timbers t. These braces and thevertical timbers t and the horizontal timber 8' act as a truss tostrengthen and steady this portion of the frame and prevent the saggingor loosening of the parts.

Having thus described our inventiolnwhat ter-shaft L and returning incontact with the sprocketwheel M upon the graincarrier shaft, incombination with the vertical movable bracket s, in which thecounter-shaft L is jonrnaled, whereby the tension of said belt may beregulated, substantially as herein described.

2. The counter-shaft L, journaled in the bracket 3, and having thesprocket-wheel K, through which power is transmitted to it from theprimary counter-shaft G, and the sprocket-Wheel 0, through which poweris transmitted from it through the belt S to the beater-shaft, pulley U,and the cleaner-fan, in combination with the guide and holdingbolts ofthe bracket 8, the adjusting-screw X, and the locking-bolt Y,substantially as herein described.

3. The grain-elevator case R, having its sides slotted at the upper end,the journalboxes 2', fitting in said slots, and the sliding plates f, towhich said boxes are secured, said slides fitting and covering the slotsin the case B, in combination with the adjusting screws and nutsattached to the slides, and the bolt j, passing through the elevatorcase and through slots in the lower ends of the slides, substantially asherein described.

4. The main driving-wheel D, the sprocketwheel F, fixed upon thecounter-shaft G and receiving power through a chain from the maindriving-wheel, the sprocket-wheel I, fixed to the counter-shaft G, thecountershaft j, having the sprocket-wheel i, and the belt h, by whichpower is transmitted from the wheel I to the wheel 1', in combinationwith the bracket y and the journal-boxes a, in which the shaft j turns,said boxes being adjustable upon said bracket, substantially as hereindescribed.

5. The main bearing and driving wheels supported upon asingle journal-shaft and the counter-shaft G, carrying the sprocket-wheels F, H,and I and journaled upon the rear portion of the thrashing-machineframe, in combination with the timbers 0, abutting against each other atan angle and against the journal-boxes of the shafts, and theadjusting-screw bolt q, passing through the meeting angle of thebrace-timbers and having a nut fitted upon its upper end, substantiallyas herein described.

6. In a traveling thrasher, the main bearing-wheels and the main drivingsprocketwheel D, the counter-shaft G, journaled in boxes upon the rearof the frame and having the sprocketwheels F, H, and I, the supplementalchains J and 7L, driving, respectively,

the counter-shafts L and j, and the supplemental wheels and chainswhereby the power is distributed from one of these countershafts to thegrain-elevator, the beater-shaft and cleaning mechanism, and from theother to the thrashing and feeding mechanism, substantially as hereindescribed.

7. lhe counter-shaft j,l1aving a sprocket and pulley upon its oppositeends, one of which receives power from the main counter-shaft G from oneside of the shaft, while the other transmits power to the cylinder atthe opposite side of the shaft,in combination with thehorizontally-adjustable journalboXes, whereby the ends of the shaft maybe moved in opposite directions, substantially as herein described.

8. The main bearing-wheel and sprocket driving-wheel l), thecounter-shaft G, receiving power therefrom, a second counter-shaft L, towhich power is transmitted from the shaft G, as described, the chainelevator-belt and buckets, an adjustable shaft and pulley driving saidelevator, and an independent adjustabe chain transmitting power to drivethe elevator from the counter-shaft L, in combination with the auger R,delivering grain into the bottom of the elevator-case, and asprocket-wheel fixed to the end of the auger-shaft within theelevator-case and around which the elevator-belt passes, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

BENJAMIN HOLT. JABEZ DRAPER.

\"itnesses:

(4130. II. (oW1E, II. '1. IREBLE.

